“My father had spent 22 years as a high school principal in my hometown of St. Peter, MN. Everyone in our small town of 11,000 knew him. In those three hours between the accident and the phone call, word spread rapidly, primarily thanks to Facebook and text messages. But, I didn’t know that. I’d been out of the house all day and offline.”

“When the orders came to return to duty at the cenotaph, about 20 soldiers in the sentry program gathered and were asked who wanted to take the first post in what many described as a show of strength in the face of tragedy. Every hand shot up.”

“When a child dies, too often people stop saying his name. Some people didn’t want to bring him up for fear it would remind me of his loss. But as with most bereaved parents, there is not a moment when I’m not aware. I feel the loss in my cells, even when I sleep. Saying my son’s name to me is one of the sweetest gifts anyone can give me. Phoenix Lind Anderson. It is the music of my heart.”

“We may honor the dead, the movie tells us, but we should also learn from their lives—their joys, their mistakes, their regrets. We can celebrate our families, it says, without being slaves to their legacies. “

If there are interesting reads about life and death, and grieving and healing you think we should feature, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or tweet us @EFootprint.

And in case you missed these, check out our featured footprints of the week. Please feel free to make an account and add information and pictures to these footprints as Everlasting Footprint is a collaborative site.

Ebola Virus

While the threat may not be as prevalent in the United States (where EF is based), our hearts still go out to the family and loved ones of those who have been affected by this terrible disease.

Please take a quick moment to check out our Group Footprint for Ebola victims. It is dedicated to those who lost their lives, as well as the heroes on the medical frontlines (doctors, nurses, scientists etc.) working towards a cure in the fight against Ebola. We have links for Ebola related charities for those who want to donate to the cause.

Vietnam War Veterans

We’re counting down to #VeteransDay with weekly coverage and tributes to the #vets who’ve done so much for our country. First up is our Vietnam War Veterans Footprint Page.

About Tiffany Qua

Social Media Manager Tiffany Qua, MA, specializes in content strategy, digital marketing, and social media campaigns. A graduate of Columbia University and John Hopkins University, Tiffany and her husband live in NYC.